Intermittent-alarm clock.



N6. 689ml. Patented Dec. l7, 19m. s. WILLCOCK.

lNTE-BMITTENT ALARM cLocK;

(Application filed Feb. 2a, 1901.)

' W'Crcessa fire C 01 STEPHEN WILLCOCK, OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF REINHOLD E. GUNTHER, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

PATENT O FICE.

lNTERlVllTTENT-ALARM CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,031, dated December 17, 1901.

Application filed February 26, 1901. $erial1ilo.48,918. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN WILLOOCK, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intermittent-Alarm Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise simple means for producing an intermittent sounding of the alarm in an alarm-clock without adding to the train and without interferingwith the proper running of the timetrain; and it consists, essentially, of a rocking lock-lever adapted to be oscillated by the teeth of the second Wheel of the time-train and of a shut-off wire secured to the verge-arbor and having its end in position to be alternately engaged and released by the lock-lever as the latter is rocked by the second wheel of the time-train, substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and then definitely claimed. I

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of an alarm-clock provided with my intermittent mechanism. Fig. 2 is a detail in elevation of a modification of the intermitting mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail of the intermitting mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The drawings show such parts of the timetrain and the alarm mechanism as are visible from the rear of the movement. All parts of these movements it is not necessary to describe in detail. Suffice it to say that A is the second wheel of the time-movement, carried by the second-wheel arbor B C is the escapement-wheel of the alarm, D the alarm-verge, and E the verge-arbor.

The alarm is of course sounded through the operation of the escapement-wheel upon the verge, which oscillates the verge-arbor, and thus reciprocates the hammer F,which is suitably secured to the verge-arbor, as shown.

The part ofthe alarm-train which operates the escapement-wheel, being on the front of the movement, is not seen; but as it is of ordinary description illustration is unnecessary.

My intermitting mechanism comprises a shut-01f wire G and a lock-lever L. The locklever comprises the arm 0., adapted to engage the end of the shut-off wire G, and the arm 1),

upon which is pivoted the dog 0. The locklever is pivoted in proximity to the second wheel A by being secured to the arbor d, pivoted in the plates of the movement. On this arbor I secure a coil-spring g, which engages the frame and tends to maintain the dog cin engagement with the second wheel. The dog 0 has a pin e at its lower end, adapted to engage the teeth of the said second wheel. This dog is capable of motion on its pivot; but its swinging motion in the direction of movement of the said second wheel is limited by means of the stop f, secured to the dog and adapted to engage the arm I).

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: When the pin 6 is at the bottom of the space between two teeth of the said second wheel, the arm a is in engagement with the shut-off wire G. (See Fig. 1.) The movement of the second wheel, however, causes the pin (2 to gradually rise, thus withdrawing the end of the arm a from engagement with the shut-off wire, permitting the alarm to sound. As soon as the pin reaches the top of the teeth the pivoted connection of the dog enables it to easily slip over the top of the tooth and drop'into the bottom of the space on the other side thereof, thus instantly shutting off the alarm.

The parts may be easily proportioned to give the alarm suitable periods of activity and silence.

In Fig. 2 I show a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1. out the dog and engages directly with the teeth of the second wheel. The arm is also quite short and thin, so that when it rides over the top of one tooth it falls into the space between the two teeth next and gives a sufficientperiod of shut-off for the alarm. In or- -der that the second wheel shall not be continually working against the spring g, I prefer to stop the fall of the arm a by allowing the arm I) to butt against a flat spring h. This, as shown in Fig. 2, stops the arm before it falls across the space between two teeth to strike the following teeth.

In case the mainspring breaks and the sec- The arm I) is with pose.

ond wheel revolves backward, the spring 9 will yield to accommodate itself to thebackward movement of the second wheel.

The great advantage of my construction is that it does not require the use of special trains to produce the intermittent feature, as the ordinary time-train answers every pur- By using the second wheel of the ti nietrain I get very close to the source of power, where the slight extra power required to drive the intermitting mechanism is not noticeable. If any attempt were made to use wheels far- 'iher from the mainspring, the running of the clock would be noticeably affected. It is impossible to use the first wheel of the train, owing to its slow motion.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an alarm-clock and in combination with the time-train and its second Wheel and the alarm mechanism and its verge-arbor; a shut-off wire secured to said verge-arbor; and an oscillating lock-lever arranged to engage and release said shut-off wire; the teeth of the said second wheel of the time-train oscillating said lock-lever whereby the latter engages and releases the said sh lit-oft wire, substantially as described.

2. In an alarm-clock, the time-train and alarm mechanism in combination witha shutoff wire secured. to the verge-arbor of the alarm mechanism; a pivoted lock-lever having one arm adapted to engage the end of the shut-off wire; a dog pivoted on the other arm of the lock-lever and adapted to engage the teeth of the second wheel of the time-train; and a stop limiting'the movement of the dog on the lever-arm in the direction of motion of the said wheel, substantially as described.

In an alarm-clock and in combination with the time-train and its second wheel and the alarm mechanism and its verge-arbor; a shut-off wire secured to said verge-arbor; an oscillating look-lever arranged to engage and release said shut-off wire; the teeth of the said second wheel of the time-train oscillatin g said lock-lever whereby the latter engages and releases the said shut-off wire; and a spring arranged to retain the lock-lever in contact with the teeth of the said second Wheel of the time-train, substantially as described.

Toronto, February 21, 1901.

STEPHEN \VILLCOCK. In presence of- JOHN G. RIDOUT, .T. EDW. MAYBEE. 

